Lehr loader



y 15, 1945- w. L. MONAMARA ETAL 2,375,936

LEER LOADER Original Filed Oct. 31, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 00 gggooofioo 000 II (J LJO D Inn/Emotes William L.MNamcra.

8 Frederick Z. Fouse.

A TTORNE Y5 May 15, 1945.

W. L. M NAMARA ET AL LEER LOADER Original Filed Oct. 3]., 1942 2Sheet3-Si1eet 2 III-ll INVENTORS William LM Namura. Frederick Z. Fouse.

Arron/ms Patented May 15, 1945 LEHR LOADER William L. McNamara andFrederick Z. Fouse, Lancaster, Ohio, assignors to Anchor Hocking GlassCorporation, Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Originalapplication October 31, 1942, Serial No.

464,048, new Patent No. 2,363,681, dated November 28, 1944.

Divided and this application April 29, 1944, Serial No. 533,329

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to a lehr loader. It has to do, more particularly,with apparatus or means for receiving glassware from a glass-formingmachine and transferring it to an annealing lehr, the apparatus servingto arrange the glassware in the lehr in such a manner that a maximumamount of the ware can be handled by the lehr. The present applicationis a division of our copending application Serial No. 464,048 filedOctoher 31, 1942, and issued November 28, 1944, as Patent No. 2,363,681.

At the present time, it is customary to transfer formed glassware fromthe forming machine onto a continuously moving conveyer where the wareis disposed in a single file. This Continuously moving conveyor usuallytransfers the ware to some type of lehr-loading apparatus. Many types oflehr loaders are employed at present.

One type commonly employed is known as the pusher bar type. Another typeis known as the plow type. Both of these types of lehr loaders receivethe ware from the continuously moving conveyer, assemble it in rowstransversely of the front of the lehr and then push the articles ontothe lehr conveyer. With this type of apparatus, there must be asufiicient period elapse between the removal of the ware from theforming machine and the pushing of the ware into the lehr, in order topermit the ware to set sufi'iciently so that its shape will not beinjured by the pushing or plowing action. Furthermore, even if the .wareis set sufi'lciently to prevent distortion thereof, the ware issubjected to considerable stress by this type of apparatus.

Another type of lehr loader employed is that type known as the grippingtong type. This type is commonly employed in connection with bottles andgrips the bottles by their necks, while they.

are supported. on the forming machine conveyer, lifts them and depositsthem on the lehr conveyer. This type of apparatus may be of such anature that it will lift individual bottles or rows of bottles. Suchapparatus can be used for certain types of ware only. It is usuallydesigned for a specific shape, height and width of ware. Furthermore,many times the tongs fail to grip the articles securely and,consequently, they drop from the tongs. Also, in gripping the articlesthey may damage them.

Another type of lehr loader employed at the present time is that typeknown as the vacuum chuck type. This type includes vacuum chucks whichserve to pick up the articles from the forming machine conveyer anddeposit them on the lehr conveyer. With this type of apparatus. itsometimes happens that the vacuum fails to hold the article, due tovarious causes, and will drop the article. This type of apparatus may beof such a nature that it will lift individual articles or rows ofarticles. It is usually designed for handling one particular type ofware.

All of the various types of lehr loaders mentioned above are of acomparatively complicated structure. They are of such a nature thatconsiderable mechanism is involved in their operation. Furthermore, eachof these types of lehrloading apparatus requires timing mechanism ofupkeep of these various forms of apparatus is likewise high.

Moreover, all of these lehr loaders have usually been of such a typethat the most eificient arrangement of the glass articles on the lehrconveyer was not accomplished. This increased the cost of operation ofthe lehr and, consequently, the cost of the glass articles treated inthe lehr.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a lehr-loadingapparatus of such a nature that the glass articles received thereby willbe arranged on the lehr conveyor in the most efiicient manner.

Another object of our invention is to provide a lehr loader or transfermechanism which is of relatively simple construction, having a minimumamount of mechanism, and one which can be built initially at a minimumcost, and wherein the operation and upkeep costs will be reduced to aminimum.

Another object of our invention .isto provide lehr-loading apparatus ofthe class described which will handle various types of ware withoutregard to its height, diameter, taper or other contour characteristics.

Another object of our invention .is to provide lehr-loading apparatus ofthe type indicated which is of such a nature that it can handle articlesof various shapes and sizes at the same time.

Another object 'of our invention is to provide lehr-loading apparatuswhichis ofsuch a nature that it can handle a plurality of difierenttypes of ware received from theforming machine and will separate thedifferent types of ware into different groups.

Another object of our invention is to provide lehr-loading apparatuswhich is of such a nature that distortion of the ware will not occureven though the ware has not completely set.

Another object of our invention is to provide lehr-loading apparatuswhich is of such a nature that the glassware will not be subjected toundue stress.

Another object of our invention is to provide a lehr-loading apparatusof such a nature that the danger of dropping of articles will beeliminated.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved lehr loaderhaving improved means or mechanism which is power driven and whichfunctions to transfer articles alternately and successively fromdifferent supply conveyers to an intermediate receiving conveyer.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved lehr loaderhaving fluid actuated means operatin at timed intervals for transferringan article from one supply conveyer to a receiving conveyer and anotherarticle from another supply conveyer to a different location on saidreceiving conveyer.

Another object is to provide an improved lehr loader of the characterdescribed in the preceding paragraph wherein supply conveyers arearranged at opposite sides of a receiving conveyer, and wherein improvedpositively actuated means is associated with said conveyers foralternately transferring articles from the supply conveyers onto thereceiving conveyer and in positions located at opposite sides of thelongitudinal center line of said last named conveyer.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved lehr loaderin accordance with that described in the two immediately precedingparagraphs wherein the supply conveyers and the receiving conveyer areof the endless type travelling at different rates of speed, and whereinpositively actuated transfer means is provided for alternately shiftingarticles from first one and then the other of said supply conveyers ontosaid receiving conveyer.

The above and other objects and advantages of our invention will appearfrom the following description and appended claims when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In its preferred form, our invention contemplates the provision of alehr-loading apparatus embodying a continuously moving conveyer disposedin front of the lehr conveyer and moving in the same direction as thelehr conveyer. The continuously moving conveyer of our apparatus ispreferably as wide or wider than the lehr conveyer and moves at a muchhigher rate of speed than the lehr conveyer. The conveyer of ourapparatus is adapted to receive the ware preferably in double file fromthe forming machine.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view, illustrating anassembly embodying the invention wherein there is shown a receivingconveyer for receiving articles from conveyers leading from two separateforming machines, together with one improved article transferring orshifting means or apparatus in association with the several conveyers.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view, partly broken away, showing thearticle transfer or shifting means or apparatus illustrated generally inFig. 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practical or carried out in various ways. It is to be understoodalso that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for thepurpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended tolimit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the priorart.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, we haveillustrated our lehr-loading apparatus associated with the conveyer 4 ofa continuous type lehr (not shown). The conveyer 4 moves continuously ata slow rate of speed. Our apparatus, as shown, is adapted to receive theware from the two separate forming machines, shown diagrammatically at Hand I2, Figure 1, and supply it to the lehr conveyer 4 in such a mannerthat it will be arranged on the lehr conveyer to obtain maximumefliciency of the lehr.

A conveyer unit of the endless belt type and shown as a whole at 5, issuitably mounted with relation to the lehr, as fully described in ourcopending application above referred to, and is so related to the lehrthat the conveyer will extend and move in the same direction as the lehrconveyer 4, said conveyer 5 being preferably disposed just slightlyhigher than the lehr conveyer 4. As shown, a grille I0 is provided tobridge the space between the conveyers 4 and 5.

The conveyer unit 5, as shown, comprises side conveyer belts 6 and 1 andan intermediate conveyer belt 8. All of these conveyer belts are of theendless type. The upper flight of each of these belts passes over ahorizontally disposed plate (not shown) which is supported on the upperend of suitable frame structure and extends for the full width andlength of said structure. Thus, the upper flight of the belts 6, I and 8are disposed in the same horizontal plane and the belts are disposedside by side with their adjacent edges, as shown, being close to eachother. The belts are preferably made of wire mesh material of the samenature as that usually provided for the lehr conveyer 4. The belt 6 ispreferably of the same width as the belt I but the intermediate belt 8is of substantially less width than the outer belts. It is to be notedthat the belt 8 extends to the right of the figures beyond belts 6 and1.

The belts 6, 1 and 8 are driven continuously and simultaneously at thesame rate of speed by means of suitable drive mechanism (not shown)which may be similar to that shown in our aforesaid copendingapplication. The speed of move ment of the belts 6, I and 8 ispreferably considerably greater than that of the lehr conveyer belt 4.

The extended portion of the conveyer belt 8, as shown, is adapted toreceive the ware from a pair of forming machine conveyers l3 and 14 fromforming machine H and 12, respectively, see Fig. 1. belts l3 and I4 andthe ware will be conveyed by the continuously moving belt 8 to anarticleguiding and arranging unit composed of two sections 9 arranged inV formation, see Figure 1. This unit will function to arrange the warein plurality of longitudinally extending closely The belt 8 receives theware from a mae'sst:

laterally spaced .rows of J ware conuthe-s conveyer." right angles.tolthe path iof movement 'ofvbonveyer belts .6, I and 8.

Referring again to Figure 1 of'the drawings, we have shown apreferredrarrangement which may be provided for receivingdifferent typesof articles from two different forming. machines; In this figure thereis -illustrated, diagram.-

matically, a forming machine 'II which produces articles C and anotherforming machine .I 2 which produces articles D. A conveyer I3.:receivesthe articles C from the machine II-an'd a similar conveyer I4 receivesthe articles D from themachine I2. These conveyers I3 and I4, as shown,converge toward each other and overlap the side edges of the outwardlyprojecting portion or end of conveyer 8. A positively operated unit,shown as a whole at I5, is provided for sliding an article C from theconveyer I3 onto the conveyer 8 and then sliding an article D fromconveyer l4 onto the conveyer 3 and repeating this operation in rapidsequence. In other words, the unit I5 alternately moves or shifts thesuccessive articles C and D laterally onto the conveyer 8 from theirrespective conveyers I3 and Id.

The unit I5 is shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3. It comprises, asshown, a double action cylinder and piston unit It. This unit I6 issupported by a frame IBa, the legs of which straddle the conveyer 8. Theunit I6 is horizontally disposed and includes a piston I'I reciprocablymounted in the cylinder and having piston rods I8 and I9 projectingoutwardly from the opposite ends thereof. The piston I! is first movedin one direction and then in the opposite direction by air supplied tothe cylinder and exhausted therefrom through the medium of the lines 2!)and 2| which are connected to opposite ends of the cylinder. The airflow to and from the cylinder I6 may be controlled by the usual type oftiming mechanism (not shown) which may be provided on forming machine IIor I2 or by the timing mechanism (not shown) usually provided for theglass feeder (not shown) The outer portions of the pistonrods l8 and I9are, as shown, supported for axial movement in strap-like guide orhearing members 22 carried by opposite outer ends of frame 23. the rodsI8 and I9 is provided with a stop member or portion 24 adjacent itsouter end which will engage the member orportion 22 and limit inwardaxial movement of the rod relative to the frame 23. The frame 23 ismounted for reciprocation in guides 25 formed on the unit I6. Each endof the frame 23 carries a lever 23 which is fulcrumed, as at 27, to abracket 28 secured to the frame. The levers 26 are pivoted to the endsof the rod l8 and I9, as at 29. The opposite ends of the levers arepivoted to links 30. Each of the links 30 is pivoted to the outer end ofan arm 3 I. The arms 3i are plied onto the upper ends of rods 32 whichare spaced apart. The rods 32 are vertically disposed and each of themhas an article-engaging arm, member, or foot 33 keyed on its lower end.These arms 33 will be supported at a point slightly above the conveyor8.

In the operation of the unit I5, assuming that the parts thereof are inthe condition and positions shown in Figures 2 and 3, an article C willbe carried by the conveyer l3 into association with a stop 34 secured tothe support or frame member I6a adjacent the path of movement of themember 33 disposed above the conveyer I3. At this time the member I3.will be in its outermost position and will be positioned substantiallyat Each of I3; as seen-'at'the rightrof- Figure The meme ber 33will havebeen swung to this position be cause the piston: rod I8 has been' moved:to;its..

therein to the opposite end of thecylinder; This, movement of thepiston'will pull thevpistomrodiit into the cylinder'and push the rod: le'out'of the cylinder; The rod I8 will move axially rela-t tive. to theframe 23 until the stop member :24

on said rod contacts themember-22 on theframe.'- Thisrelativemovement ofthe= rod-andfr'ame swings the arm 33 around to a position substantiallyat right angles to its original position. Further movement of rod I8causes the frame 23 to move, carrying the arm 33 along with it. The arm33 engages the article 0 and slides it from the conveyer I3 onto theconveyer 8 at one side thereof. Outward movement of rod I9 causes it tomove relative to frame 23 and swings the lever 26, connected thereto,outwardly. This swings the member 33, adjacent conveyer I4, into aposition substantially at right angles to the path of movement ofconveyer I4 and the movement of frame 23 will move this member 33 to apoint adjacent the outer edge of conveyer M. A stop member 35, like stopmember 34, is associated with the conveyer I4. Thus, this member 33 willbe in position to be brought into engagement with an article D movedinto contact with stop 35.

It will be apparent that with this arrangement, one of the members 33will engage an article on one conveyer and slide it onto the conveyer 8while the other member 33 is simultaneously moved into such a positionthat it will be ready to engage an article on the other conveyer. In thereturn movement of each of the members 33, such member will be disposedsubstantially at right angles to the path of movement of thearticle-supplying conveyer and will not interfere with an article movinginto association with the stop provided therefor.

It will be apparent that with this arrangement the articles C and D,coming from the two separate forming machines, II and I2, will be keptseparate from each other. These articles will be carried by the conveyerD to the article-guiding and arranging units 9 shown in Figure 1. Smalltapered plates 36 may be provided between the conveyers I3 and I4 forbridging the gaps therebetween, see Figure 3.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. Apparatus of the type described including a continuously movingconveyer, means for supplying articles in two rows to said conveyer,said means comprising a pair of article-supplying conveyers disposed atopposite sides of said firstnamed conveyer, means for pushing an articlefirst from one of said supplying conveyers to the first conveyer andthen pushing an article from the other of said supplying conveyers tothe first conveyer in such a manner that the articles will be disposedin two rows on the first conveyer, said means comprising a reciprocablesupport disposed above said first conveyer, said support carrying anarticle-engaging member at each end thereof adapted to move over thearticle-supply ing conveyer at the corresponding side thereof and toengage an article and to push it off the supplying conveyer onto thefirst conveyer, and means for swinging each of said article-engagingmembers from article-engaging position, extending longitudinally of theconveyer, to inoperative position, extending transversely of theconveyer, during the reciprocation of said support.

2. In combination with article-guiding and arranging means for guidingand arranging articles to be introduced into a lehr in which said meansis located above and in close proximity to a plurality ofarticle-receiving movable conveyers and in which one of saidarticle-receiving conveyers has a forward extension beyond the forwardends of the other conveyers; of means for supplying articles in two rowsto said conveyer extension, said means comprising a pair ofarticlesupplying conveyers disposed at opposite sides of 15 the conveyerextension, and fluid actuated articletransfer means movable relativelyto the articlesupplying conveyers and said extension for firsttransferring an article from one of said articlesupplying conveyers ontosaid extension and then from the other of said article-supplyingconveyers onto the extension, said fluid-actuated articletransfer meansincluding periodically oscillatable article-engaging and shiftingmembers for alternately transferring articles from the articlesupplyingconveyers onto the forward extension of one of the article-receivingconveyers.

WILLIAM L. MCNAMARA. FREDERICK Z. FOUSE.

